[percy-l] The Moviegoer
Beck, David A
dabeck at iupui.edu
Wed May 10 22:39:06 EDT 2006
Friends,
A few weeks (months?) ago, someone posted a message about the success
of teaching The Moviegoer to a high school class. (I'm thinking it was
Rhonda.) But the email encouraged me to try it once again, in my Intro
to Lit class this summer. Most of the class will be bright-faced, eager
to learn, college freshman--well, college freshman anyway.
The Moviegoer is one of my favorites, but it's also one that I've never
taught successfully. Most thought it was too weird (I interpreted that
as being too dated--replace Tony Curtis with Tom Cruise, etc.) But if
high schoolers got it, then maybe it is the way I've been teaching it.
Lancelot has always gone over well in my 200-level lit classes. And
Love in the Ruins also works pretty well, though it's a little too
long. But TMG is such a great book that I thought I needed to give it
one more try. I'm re-reading it now and am really enjoying it again.
So my question is (to the list and to Rhonda, if she is the one who
posted the email): What is a good way of presenting this novel that is
dated (in its references) but is as timely now (if not more so) than
ever to college freshman?
Any help will be much appreciated. The class doesn't begin until 6/26.
Thanks.
-David
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